s are divided into two or
more groups which compete against each other. Each group lines up in
single file, so that the leaders all toe a starting line. Placed on
the floor in front of each group, and stretching ahead in the same
direction, should be a row of potatoes at intervals of two or three
feet apart, one for each player in the file. The larger and the more
irregular in shape the potatoes the better. There should be from six
to ten potatoes for each row. Each leader should be furnished with a
teaspoon, and beside the leader of each file should be a pan, box, or
basket, in which the potatoes are to be placed. At a signal each
leader starts forward, takes up a potato on the spoon, carries it to
the box or basket beside his first standing position, and places the
potato in it; he then hands the spoon to the next player, and passes
off the playing field, not lining up again with his team. The second
player picks up the next potato, puts it in the box, and so on, until
all have played, the last one standing beside the box with the spoon
held aloft as a signal that he has finished.

It is not allowable to touch the potato with anything but the spoon.
Should a potato be touched otherwise, the player must replace it and
pick it up again on the spoon. Should a potato drop from the spoon, it
must be picked up on the spoon where it dropped, and the play
continued from that point.

PRISONER'S BASE

Prisoner's Base is one of the most popular games for both boys
and girls who are beginning to care for team organization, and
is capital for adults. It gives opportunity for vigorous
exercise for all of the players, for the use of much judgment,
prowess, and daring, and for simple team or cooeperative work.

The game is found under many different forms. Several, which
offer marked or typical differences, each possessing distinct
playing values, are given here. These differences are in (1)
the arrangement of the ground, and (2) the rules governing the
players and game.

The differences in the grounds may be classed as follows:--

I. The entire playground divided in two divisions, one
belonging to each party, each division having a small pen for
prisoners at the rear. (Diagram I.)

II. The main part of playground neutral territory, with home
goals for the opposing parties at opposite ends, with prisons
in, near, or attached to them. (